Saint Mary's beacon., 1887-05-12
olD MRS. COLE.

never teg Soul OF us kuoW ABOUT ~!
"Oh," said Mrs. Stsbbins, as sh,
alighted from a wagon at her owr
door, and shook hands with Miss Nay
lOr, who happened to be passing. "yO.
see, only went for q day and night
so didn't think it worth while to nd
vertise il on the church door /
wanted to buy some dry goods and
kitchen things, and they'r re cheapsl
in Barnville than in 3 liftle plaes
lie this. And besides, there's my
niece, Maria; whom hadn I seen since
her last baby was born, and she and
the baby both in poor health. So ]
thought might as well 60 dp. and SO
kill two birds with one stone"
To be sure And how did you
find Maria and the baby9 And how
are all the folks in Barnville?
Well, I was glad to find them two
looking pretty smart and spry; and
as for the rest, I didn't hear of any
body being sick or in trouble. unless
it was old Mrs. Cole
'Ah So old Mrs. Coles sick I said
Miss Naylor, with look Of aroused
interest. And what is it ails her this
time?
why, nothing much, reckon. l
did hear Maria holler to little Betty
Cole, and ask how her gran'ma was
to-day; and she said bout the same
as yesterday. Maria asked if the fe-
yer was gone down; but just then
Jeems came in to dinner, so didn't
hear the rest. and forgot to aak Maria
about Mrs. Cole
Well, well I'm sorry to hear she's
sick, poor soul for she s a good wo-
man, and we can't easy afford to spare
such. But she's well on in years, and
I've been ruther expectin' to hear Of,
her being took down, considerin' she's
over sixty. But law mel mustn't
keep you standin' here in the street,
and you just come home. Good-by !
and depend upon me for comm round
soon to see what pretty things you've
brought
With this Miss Naylor turned away,
and with her basket on her arm pro-
ceeded to the store for a supply Of
groceries.
There she found Mrs. Brown, the
house carpenters wife, engaged in
cheapening calico.
You amt as smart as Miss Steb-
bins, said Mss Naylor, as the two
critically examined the quality Of the
calico. She's been up to Barnville,
and laid in a 10! of dry goods and
things, for the sake of saving about
twenty-five cents or so. For my part,
l go for encouraging home trade
We'll, l don't know Mrs. Brown
replied, doubtfully. Seems to me
everybody's bound to look out for
their own interest, and I confess I'd
be willing to go little out of the way
to save twenty-five cents. But what
did Sally Stebbins say was the news
in Barnville
Nothing, except that old Miss Cole S
down with fever. Miss Stebbins said
she was no better when she left. She
is over sixty, and / wouldn't be sur
prised to hear Of her death any min
ute
i wonder if John Coles wife knows
of it? She ought to be told, for her
husbands mother was second cousin
to old Mrs. Cole, and they've got the
same family name, and always been
friendly. II she dies, they'll Of course
go to the funeral, as they did when
the old man died, four years ago.
Then Miss Naylor TUNED to the
groceries and Mrs. Brown, having
concluded her bargain by persuading
the merchant to take a basket OF dried
apples in part payment for his goods,
left the store and took her way home
ward, well pleased.
Meeting a neighbor on the way, the
two stopped to exchange greetings
and inquire the news.
That reminds me, said Mrs. Brown,
promptly. 'rvejest this minute parted
frota Liza Nsylor, and she told me
thai she'd seen Mrs. Stebbins, who's
Just from Barnville, and left old Mrs.
Cole as low as could be with fever.
Liza said they were every minute ex-
pecting her death, and she's no doubt
gone by this time, poor soul. She
thinks Jane Cole will go to the fune
raj, If she knows Of the old LADY:
death.
Why, of course, they ought TO send
a messenger and let EN- know, re.
piled Mrs, Miller. They're theiI
own kin, though not very nigh; and